Written Answers Monday 25 January 2010

Scottish Executive

Alcohol

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many retailers have lost their licence to sell alcohol due to selling to under-age drinkers in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Kenny MacAskill: The following table gives the number of off-sales licences suspended (table 1). The data on suspensions do not include the reason for suspension and it is therefore not possible to identify whether suspensions are due to a particular offence.

  Table 1: Off-sales Liquor Licence Suspensions: 2003 to 2007

  

 
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007


Angus
-
-
-
1
-


Clackmannanshire
-
2
-
-
-


Dundee City
2
-
-
-
1


East Ayrshire
-
-
-
-
1


East Dunbartonshire
-
-
-
2
-


East Lothian
-
-
-
-
2


Edinburgh, City of
3
1
1
1
3


Falkirk
-
2
-
-
-


Fife
-
-
-
5
-


Glasgow City
-
1
1
1
1


North Ayrshire
-
-
-
1
-


North Lanarkshire
1
-
4
2
3


Perth and Kinross
-
-
-
-
2


Scottish Borders
1
-
-
-
-


South Lanarkshire
-
1
1
1
-


Stirling
-
-
1
-
1


West Lothian
-
-
-
1
1


Scotland
7
7
8
15
15



  Source: Data provided by local authority licensing boards to Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  Notes:

  1. - Denotes nil.

  2. The legislation under which these licences were granted does not make provision for the revocation of a licence. Legislation was recently passed which does make such a provision and came fully into force on 1 September 2009.

  3. Transitional arrangements were in place from February 2008 pending the full implementation of the new legislation and data collection was suspended during this period to avoid unnecessary burden on local authorities.

Alcohol

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated percentage is of men and women who drink within the recommended maximum limit of units of alcohol.

Shona Robison: Alcohol consumption is measured in terms of both daily and weekly drinking. The following tables include survey estimates based on consumption on the heaviest drinking day in the previous week and usual weekly consumption.

  It is widely accepted that surveys tend to underestimate levels of alcohol consumption. Industry data on alcohol sales suggest that consumption levels may be higher than those estimated from surveys.

  Table 1 – Estimated Alcohol Consumption Level on Heaviest Drinking Day in Past Week by Sex, 2008

  

Alcohol units per day
Adults (%)


Men
 


Did not drink in last week
31


Consumed 4 units or less
25


Consumed more than 4 units
44


Women
 


Did not drink in last week
42


Consumed 3 units or less
21


Consumed more than 3 units
36



  Source: Scottish Health Survey.

  Notes:

  1. The sum of the constituent parts may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

  2. Government recommendations in relation to daily drinking are that men should not drink more than four units and women more than three units on a regular basis. It is also recommended that both men and women have two alcohol free days a week.

  Table 2 – Estimated Usual Weekly Alcohol Consumption Level by Sex, 2008

  

Alcohol Units Per Week
Adults (%)


Men
 


Never drank alcohol
4


Ex-drinker
6


Consumed 21 units or less
60


Consumed more than 21 units
30


Women
 


Never drank alcohol
7


Ex-drinker
6


Consumed 14 units or less
67


Consumed more than 14 units
20



  Source: Scottish Health Survey.

  Note: 1. The guidance in relation to weekly drinking levels are that men should not drink more than 21 units and women not more than 14 units per week.

  Table 3 – Proportion Drinking within Daily and Weekly Recommended Alcohol Consumption Limits by Sex, 2008

  

Proportion Drinking Within Limits1
Adults (%)


Men
 


Daily limits (4 or less)
56


Weekly limits (21 or less)
70


Both daily and weekly limits
49


Women
 


Daily limits (3 or less)
64


Weekly limits (14 or less)
80


Both daily and weekly limits
60



  Source: Scottish Health Survey.

  Note: 1. Includes those who did not drink at all.

Asthma

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it next plans to ask NHS boards for an update on progress on performance against asthma services for children and young people clinical standards.

Shona Robison: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) is supporting NHS boards with the implementation the two key recommendations in its report Asthma Services for Children and Young People (incorporating Clinical Governance and Risk Management) National Overview , published in November 2008.

  NHS QIS intends to report during 2011-12 on NHS boards’ progress in implementing these recommendations.

Bees

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how often it has met representatives of the Bee Farmers’ Association since May 2007.

Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government officials have met directly with representatives from the Bee Farmers’ Association formally on several occasions in relation to the Bee Health Strategy for Scotland and the EFB/AFB Disease outbreak. Contact and the sharing of information has also been kept up by correspondence. Officials have also attended meetings arranged by Defra to which representatives from the BFA have also been present.

  

General Stakeholder Meeting
5 March 2008


Bee Health Strategy Meetings
17 July 20082 April 2009


Disease Stakeholder Meetings
20 July 20095 August 200919 August 200911 September 200917 November 2009


Defra 
26 November 2007



  Scottish Government officials have also met BFA representatives through field visits, attending conferences and training events.

Bees

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28868 by Richard Lochhead on 26 November 2009, what its position is regarding the sufficiency of the number of inspections of beehives in 2007 and 2008.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is content with the sufficiency of the number of inspections of beehives in 2007 and 2008.

  Scottish Government Bee Inspectors are obliged to carry out inspections only when they are informed of the presence or suspected presence of a notifiable disease or pest. Therefore, the number of completed inspections is in direct proportion to the number of notifications that have been received.

Bees

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28868 by Richard Lochhead on 26 November 2009, for what reason inspections are completed only when a beekeeper has contacted the relevant authority as a result of a suspected notifiable disease.

Richard Lochhead: Inspections are completed in this way to enable the Scottish Government to fulfil their legal obligations under The Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Scotland) Order 2007 and the Bees Act 1980.

Bees

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding it will provide to the bee industry following the announcement by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 21 January 2009 that an additional £2.3 million would be allocated to the National Bee Unit.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government have, in 2009:

  contributed £500,000 to a five-year insect pollinator research initiative;

  confirmed our commitment to the funding of four full-time equivalent Bee Inspectors who will be in post until spring 2011 (when the position will be reviewed);

  continued our support of an apiculture specialist at SAC and the provision of a free diagnostic service to beekeepers to identify and confirm the presence of varroa and notifiable bee pests and diseases at SASA;

  funded, provided and distributed the antibiotic Oxytetracycline (OTC) to beefarmers affectect by the EFB outbreak and provided the training for them to ensure the safe use and administration of the OTC, and

  are currently considering investing in the National Bee Unit’s electronic database (Beebase), which is able to provide services and information to both beekeepers and bee inspectors.

Bees

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28869 by Richard Lochhead on 26 November 2009, what progress it is making in finalising its bee strategy.

Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government officials are currently evaluating the lessons learned during the notifiable disease outbreaks experienced in 2009 and, as detailed in the answer to question S3W-28869, will publish the strategy when this process is completed.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Bees

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, given that the bee strategy in England and Wales was launched in March 2009, for what reason its equivalent strategy has been delayed.

Richard Lochhead: The publication of the strategy has been delayed due to the unprecedented events of two notifiable bee diseases being confirmed during the summer and autumn of 2009.

  Scottish Government officials considered it prudent to take time to consider the valuable lessons that could be learned from this experience and incorporate them into the strategy.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30189 on 25 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Bees

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on screening for varroa mites resistant to pyrethroid medication in each of the last three years.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government completed an exercise to establish if there was a resistance to pyrethroids in Scotland in 2008 at a cost of £4,252. Restrictions in place brought on by foot and mouth in 2007 meant that this exercise, originally planned for 2007, was carried out in 2008. No expenditure has taken place in 2009 specifically for this task.

Bees

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on services provided by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture in relation to varroa mites.

Richard Lochhead: Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) provides a free diagnostic service to beekeepers to identify and confirm the presence of Varroa and notifiable bee pests and diseases as well as technical advice. The available figures cover the totals for SASA’s work in support of Bee Health:

  

2006
£12,183.00


2007
£8,659.34


2008
£4,459.00


2009 (up to end September 2009)
£19,481.65

Bees

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support beekeeping and improve the environment for bees, such as planting bee friendly plants.

Richard Lochhead: In relation to supporting beekeeping, the Scottish Government:

  Provides a full time apiculture specialist at SAC (who provides comprehensive advisory, training and education programmes for beekeepers throughout Scotland.

  Provides a free diagnostic service to beekeepers to identify and confirm the presence of varroa and notifiable bee pests and diseases through SASA.

  Are finalising their Bee Health Strategy which will help to achieve a sustainable and healthy population of honey bees for pollination and honey production in Scotland via strengthened partnership working between the Scottish Government and stakeholders.

  Are drawing together a control strategy for 2010 which will ensure bee farmers can continue to operate, whilst minimising the risk of further spread of the disease to other beekeepers.

  Have confirmed that four full-time equivalent Bee Inspectors will be in post until spring 2011, when the position will be reviewed.

  Have contributed £500,000 to a five year insect pollinator research initiative.

  In relation to improving the environment for bees, such as planting bee friendly plants, bees will benefit from a wide range of habitat improvements, including measures supported under the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) for the creation and management of species rich grassland.

  Also, the Great Yellow Bumblebee has been identified in SNH’s Species Action Framework as a species for conservation action.

Central Heating

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29731 by Alex Neil on 18 December 2009, what the reasons were for the rejection of unsuccessful applications for support from the Energy Assistance Package.

Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package checks the eligibility of each caller and identifies the individual types of help appropriate to them. It is therefore not possible to identify an unsuccessful application.

  Local energy advisors guide the caller through a structured telephone interview. All callers are offered energy savings advice, usually based on a Home Energy Check that identifies ways in which their home can be improved. This is stage one of the package.

  Where appropriate, callers are asked if they want to be referred to stage two for one or more of the following:

  - income maximisation: either the Pensions Service or Citizens Advice Direct will call to check their entitlement to benefits;

  - reduction in fuel bills: their electricity supplier will call them to check their eligibility for social tariffs and also may be able to switch them to cheaper payment methods.

  If the caller is interested in stages three or four, the advisor asks various questions to establish whether the household is likely to be eligible for either or both stages.

  Callers who are clearly eligible only for stage three are referred to energy suppliers for a Stage Three survey.

  Advisors refer a caller for a stage four eligibility survey if it appears from the interview that the household is eligible. They are also instructed to refer for survey any caller who is unable to provide sufficient information to complete the questionnaire, dwellings where the energy efficiency rating is borderline, or dwellings that are too large to be assessed using the Home Energy Check.

  At stage two:

  the Pensions Service decides eligibility for pension credits according to the relevant regulations;

  Citizens Advice Direct checks the eligibility of younger households for benefits and advises them how to apply, but it is up to the household to apply to the relevant agency, which decides eligibility (such as HM Revenue and Customs for tax credits, to Job Centre Plus or the Department of Work and Pensions for income support and other benefits, or to the local authority for housing benefit or reduction in council tax);

  energy suppliers decide whether households are eligible for a social tariff according to their own guidelines.

  At stage three:

  the energy company decides whether measures can be provided with CERT funding;

  some referrals to Stage Three do not result in installed measures, for four reasons: the household cannot be contacted, they cannot provide evidence of eligibility, they cancel their enquiry about stage three, or the surveyor finds that the house is not suitable for the particular insulation measures available for CERT funding.

  At stage four:

  the eligibility survey is a check against the requirements of the Home Energy Assistance (Scotland) Regulations 2009, as amended; it comprises a check of household eligibility and a building survey using Reduced data SAP, which estimates energy performance.

  10% of households referred to stage four are not surveyed, because either the caller cannot be contacted to arrange a survey or they decide to cancel their enquiry.

  Of the households rejected after an eligibility survey:

  - over half cannot provide evidence of eligibility, although some subsequently provide proof and are accepted;

  - the remainder are rejected because the dwelling is found not to be energy inefficient within the terms of the regulations, having a SAP rating of 55 or more.

Central Heating

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29731 by Alex Neil on 18 December 2009, whether it has undertaken an assessment of the geographical distribution of the households that received support from the Energy Assistance Package from April to end November 2009 to ascertain the reasons for the low numbers in some areas, such as Shetland.

Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package is a demand-led programme targeted primarily towards fuel poor households.

  Each month, fuel poverty officials review progress on the installation of heating system and insulations measures, both nationally and by each local authority. Statistics for stages one, two, and three and the overall number of calls, broken down by local authority are also reviewed. Any additional analyses are then requested as required.

  Shetland has 0.4% of the Scottish population and at stage four, Shetland has had 0.4% of the total insulation, draughtproofing and heating system measures completed up to the end of December under the EAP. It also has 0.4% of the households where heating system measures are being progressed and should be completed by the end of the year. Nonetheless, I am aware of the high incidence of fuel poverty in Shetland, as described by the Scottish House Condition Survey and would seek to encourage a higher uptake to reflect this.

  In population terms, it may appear that Shetland is under-represented in stages one, two, and three of the EAP and the total number of calls, with about half the expected numbers relative to the size of population. Shetland Islands Council (SIC) operates its own scheme to address fuel poverty and the ESSac is working with them to ensure the Energy Assistance Package and the SIC scheme complement each other and avoid overlap. I have asked the Energy Savings Trust to review fuel poverty work in Shetland by both the local authority and the ESSac and, if appropriate, to make further efforts to raise awareness of the programme in Shetland.

Constitution

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when in 2010 the proposed Referendum Bill will be published.

Bruce Crawford: As stated in the White Paper, Your Scotland, Your Voice  published on 30 November 2009, the Scottish Government intends to bring forward the Referendum Bill early in 2010.

Culture

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much public funding Arts & Business Scotland has received for 2009-10.

Fiona Hyslop: Arts & Business Scotland received a total of £427,930 of public funding in 2009-10.

  These investments have levered a further £311,000 through new arts sponsorship from businesses and have supported the provision of services to arts organisations, the value of which Arts & Business Scotland estimates to be at least an additional £500,000.

Diabetes

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional provision has been budgeted for insulin pumps for (a) adults and (b) people under the age of 18 for each of the next three years, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: I have asked each NHS board chair to provide details of their board’s planned investment in insulin pumps, and the structured education associated with it, over the next three-five years.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each NHS board has spent in relation to clinical negligence claims in each of the last five years.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11099 on 14 April 2008 which contains the data requested for the financial years 2004-05 to 2006-07, and the answer to question S3W-22006 on 25 March 2009 which contains the data requested for the financial year 2007-08. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx

  The following table details the number of clinical negligence cases that settled in 2008-09 together with the sums paid out in those settlements.

  

Health Board
Settled Cases (No.)
Sums Paid (£)


Ayrshire and Arran
10
420,488


Borders
3
24,000


Dumfries and Galloway
3
161,653


Fife
3
4,555,328


Forth Valley
20
3,480,944


Grampian
14
4,286,163


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
50
8,835,807


Highland
8
282,769


Lanarkshire
7
1,698,250


Lothian
27
1,454,203


Orkney
1
40,000


Tayside
22
732,142


Western Isles
1
3,000


NHS 24
1
25,000


National Waiting Times Board
1
8,000


Total
171
26,007,747



  Fluctuations in the sums paid from year to year are due to the number of high value settlements occurring in any one year. These tend to relate to birth cases where the sums paid can amount to several million pounds per case. There were three settlements in excess of £4 million in 2008-09.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 19 recommendations in the report, Multi-agency inspection: Assessing and managing offenders who present a high risk of serious harm 2009 , have been fully implemented.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government welcomes and accepts the 19 recommendations in the Multi-agency inspection report, Assessing and managing offenders who present a high risk of serious harm.  All of them are being implemented.

  An update on progress has been published on the Scottish Government’s website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/public-safety/offender-management/protection/reports/updatereport.

Maritime Issues

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been made available in each of the last 10 years towards the development of new acoustic deterrent devices and other benign technologies for discouraging seals and other marine predators from approaching aquaculture and fisheries equipment and to whom this funding was provided.

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations, bodies and businesses it has worked in partnership with on the development of new acoustic deterrent devices and which of these are still engaged in related work.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has provided £335,107 of research funding over the last 10 years towards development of new acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs) and other benign technologies for discouraging seals and other marine predators from approaching aquaculture and fisheries equipment:

  

Year
Scottish Government Funding


2004
£30,000


2005
£30,000


2006
£30,000


2007
£30,000


2008
£110,727


2009
£104,380



  The Sea Mammal Research Unit has been the principle recipient of this research funding in order to examine and develop different deterrent techniques that could be made available to the aquaculture industry.

  Through the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) the Scottish Government has also provided £1,040,881 to fund relevant work at fish farms in Scotland since 2000. The funding has provided assistance with upgrading and deployment of new equipment, including anti-predator nets, and to support a project in Shetland to trial a seal predation protection system using ADDs.

  Some of the research funding has been provided through the arrangements established under the Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum (SARF) – a partnership including The Scottish Government, The Crown Estate and the aquaculture industry. Research projects have also involved collaboration with Defra and through the EU Fisheries Fund.

  The Scottish Government continues to work with its partners to refine these technologies and develop new approaches.

Maritime Issues

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards the development of species-specific acoustic deterrent devices; which species can be targeted by these devices; how effective they have been found to be, and when and where they have been tested or deployed.

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the delay in the testing or deployment of any newly developed species-specific acoustic deterrent devices that might reduce or eliminate perceived need to kill seals or other marine predators.

Richard Lochhead: A Scottish Government sponsored research project has reviewed existing deterrents and developed a cetacean-friendly seal scarer using novel artificial sounds. This research showed, through captive experiments, that seals can be deterred by many sounds but that this effect can gradually disappear over time. The new acoustic deterrent involves a ‘startle stimulus’ which appears to continue to work over time.

  The Scottish Government has considered possible funding for testing this new species-specific acoustic deterrent in the field and now plans to support a follow-on project.

Ophthalmology

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to reduce ophthalmology waiting times.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to improving access to healthcare. That is why it has set NHSScotland a challenging target that no patient should wait more than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by the end of December 2011. To deliver the target the Scottish Government has made available £230 million over three years.

  Excellent progress has been made in reducing waiting times across hospital services including in the specialty of ophthalmology. NHSScotland has effectively sustained delivery of the 12 week targets for both a first outpatient consultation following a GP or dentist referral and for inpatient and day case treatment a year early. The 12 week targets are milestone targets towards delivery of the 18 weeks referral to treatment target and was due to be delivered at the end of March 2010.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what education opportunities are available to offenders serving custodial sentences, broken down by prison.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunities are available to offenders serving custodial sentences to gain Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) qualifications, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information below captures the main educational opportunities provided through the prison learning centres and our vocational training units including our PE departments. Where these are linked to SQA certification this is noted.

  

Prison
Courses delivered in the Prison Learning Centre


Aberdeen
SQA Certificated: Communication, English, Numeracy, Maths, Computing/IT, ESOL (English classes for students whose main language is not English), Art, Employability 


Addiewell
SQA Certificated: Core Skills - Communication, Numeracy, Problem Solving, IT and Working with Others Languages (Spanish, French, Italian), Business Administration and Management, IT, ESOL, Literacies, Enterprise and Employability.SQA Certificated Open Learning – Communication, Numeracy, Psychology, Sociology, Journalism, Sports DevelopmentREHIS: Food Preparation and Cooking, Music and Performance, Art, First Aid, Health and Safety in the Workplace, Wellbeing, Industrial Cleaning


Barlinnie
SQA Certificated: English, Communication, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Creative Writing, Maths/Numeracy, IT/Computing, Modern Studies, ArtREHIS - Food HygieneStorybook Class (Creating personalised story books for your children)


Cornton Vale
SQA Certificated: IT/Computing, Computing/Desk top publishing, Computing short-term, Computing/Literacy Class, Communication, Literacy classes, Numeracy, Maths, Magazine Group, Creative Writing, Next Steps, Money Matters, Under The Headlines, Book Group, Open Learning, Vocational Support class, Music, Story Sacks, Health and Safety, First Aid, Integrated Card Making and non certificated literacies support


Dumfries
SQA Certificated: Computing – Using a keyboard (Access 3), Info Tech (Access 2 to Intermediate 2), Databases (Intermediate 2), Spreadsheets (Intermediate 2), Word Processing (Intermediate 2), Communications and Creative Writing – Communications (Access 3 to Higher), Creative Arts – Art and Design (Access 3), Painting Techniques Opaque (Intermediate 1), Introduction to Watercolour (Intermediate 2), Fabric Craft: Batik (Intermediate 2), Fabric Craft: Fabric Painting (Intermediate 2), Drawing Skills: Line and Tone Technique (Intermediate 2), History of Art (1400-1600) (Higher)Maths and Numeracy – Numeracy (Access 2 to Higher), Using Basic Number Skills (Access 2), Maths (Intermediate 1 to Higher), Using Arithmetic Skills (Intermediate 1), Core Maths 2 (Intermediate 1), Core Maths 3 (Intermediate 1), Core Maths 4 (Intermediate 2)European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)


Edinburgh
SQA Certificated: Computing for beginners ( IT core skills ), Computer applications, Advanced computing, PC Passport, Communication (English), Literacy classes, ESOL for foreign students, Numeracy classes, Maths, Art ( Drawing, sketching and painting ), Open /Distance Learning options. Creative Writing, Multimedia, Science awareness, Music – learning guitar, Music workshop, Magazine group, Peer Tutoring, Storybook Dads, E-learning packages.


Glenochil
SQA Certificated: Information Technology, PC Passport, Maths, Numeracy, Literacy, Communications, Higher Communications, Art, Distance Learning options, Creative Writing, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), ITALL (peer literacies tutoring qualification), SpanishFilm Club, Business Start up, Photography, CELL DVD Project, Storybook DADS,, Peer Tutoring, Employability support, REHIS, Computer Hardware, Money Matters, ECDL, Writer-in-Residence projects 


Greenock
SQA Certificated: Core Skills Communications - Access 3 (Higher Enhance Reading, Writing and Talking skills), Core Skills IT – Access 2 (Higher, including spreadsheets, databases and desk top publishing), Preparing to Work With People with Special Needs – Volunteer prisoners working with service users from the local community leading to SQA accreditation Intermediate 2, ECDL, Computer Aided Design(CAD), Core Skills Maths – Weighing and measuring, percentages and budgeting, Art/Craft – Introduction to drawing and painting, Sewing/Needlepoint/Soft Toy Making, Scraperboard, Drama – Working with others helping to bring a script to the stage. Participation leads to SQA accreditation, Open Learning optionsGuitar, Story Book Dads – An opportunity for prisoners to read and record a story for a child, produced on CD with a personalised messageCatch Up – One-to-one and small group tutoring for learners who require support with literacy and numeracy


Inverness
SQA Certificated: Numeracy (Access 2 to Intermediate 2), Communication (Access 2 to Higher), Information Technology (Access 2 to Intermediate 2 and ECDL), Art (Access 3 to Intermediate 2)Creative Writing – Including poetry, stories and books for children which are completed on computer and bound into copies.ESOL (English classes for students whose first language is not English)Literacies Support – One to one small group workGuitar Employability Support – CVs, Disclosure and Rehabilitation of Offender Act, interview techniques, advice on employment, courses and qualification. 


Kilmarnock
SQA Certificated: Communications, Creative Writing, Information Technology, Numeracy, Mathematics, Media Studies, Library, Health and Safety in the Workplace, Sewing Machine Skills, Open Learning Options.ECDL, Food Hygiene


Open Estate
SQA Certificated: Access 3, Intermediate 1 and 2, Higher ITECDL – European Computer Driving Licence, Advanced ECDL (coming soon), Web Design and Photoshop Elements, Driving Theory Practice, Short Course on PC Build and Maintenance, Magazine Group, Discussion Group, Reader Group, Volunteer Awareness course (twice a year)Literacy support in conjunction with community partners


Perth
SQA Certificated: Literacy Learning – including Communication (Access 2), English Language Study (Access 2), Communication (Access 3), English Language Study (Access 3)Employability, Art, Maths and Numeracy, ICT.Independent Leaving and Teaching KitchenCustomised or Specialist Course including Dear Dad Course, Money Matters Course, Drama and Personal Development


Peterhead
SQA Certificated: Numeracy and Maths – Using Basic Number Skills, Numeracy (Access 3 to Intermediate 2), Maths (Access 2 to Higher), Art and Design – Art and Design (Access 2 to Higher), Core Skills – Working With Others Intermediate 1, Working With Others Intermediate 2, Creative Writing – Creative Writing 1, Creative Writing 2, Computing – Keyboard Skills, IT Access 3, IT Intermediate 1, IT Intermediate 2, ITOA Word Processor, ITOA Database, ITOA Spreadsheets, Core Skills – Communications (Access to Intermediate 2), Problem Solving (Access to Intermediate 2)Open and Distance learning options availableECDL


Polmont
SQA Certificated: Literacy, English, Communications, numeracy and maths – A wide range of qualifications are available from beginner to advanced. You can learn in small groups or receive one to one support. Numeracy and Maths – Learn how to use numbers in everyday settings or gain qualifications such as Higher Maths. Information Technology – IT courses range from basic IT skills up to web design and animation skills.Non certificated reading and writing support and creative writing classesECDLWide range of opportunities including learning to paint, play musical instrument, participate in a drama class or develop your animation skills. Reader-in-Residence – The reader-in-residence runs a range of activities to help with reading. These include book groups, film clubs and a ‘tales for tots class’ to help participants to write stories for their children. Life skills - classes in cookery, first aid, health and safety and food hygiene.Employability support – Write a CV, how to behave in an interview and how to find the right job. 


Shotts
SQA Certificated: Maths – from basic to advanced,Literacy/communication support – from basic to advanced, ICT from basic to web design, Photoshop up to HNC/D CAAD, social sciences, history, geography, languages – Spanish and French, History of ArtDrama – Learn how to act, direct, improvise and devise pieces and consider how best to structure stories and scriptwriting.Peer Tutoring Course – Learn how to help fellow students read and write.



  Open University study is available to eligible prisoners funded in conjunction with the Scottish Funding Council and managed centrally through the SPS Higher Education Access Board.

  

Vocational Training Area (SQA Certificated)
Establishments


Bricklaying
Barlinnie, Edinburgh, Glenochil, Greenock, Open Estate, Perth, Polmont


Carpentry & Joinery
Addiewell, Barlinnie, Dumfries, Edinburgh, Glenochil, Polmont


Painting & Decorating
Barlinnie, Edinburgh, Glenochil, Greenock, Perth, Polmont, 


Roofing
Barlinnie, Polmont, 


Hairdressing
Barlinnie, Cornton Vale, Glenochil, Greenock, Perth, Polmont


Plumbing
Barlinnie, Edinburgh, Open Estate, Perth, Polmont


Laundry
Cornton Vale, Dumfries, Edinburgh, Glenochil, Greenock, Open Estate, Perth, Peterhead, Shotts


Industrial Cleaning
Dumfries


Monoblocking
Edinburgh


Electrical
Edinburgh


Plastering
Addiewell, Edinburgh, Polmont


Information Technology
Edinburgh, Polmont


Skills for Work - Sport & Recreation
Edinburgh, Glenochil, Polmont


Catering
Edinburgh, Shotts


Engineering
Edinburgh


Highway Maintenance (Streetworks)
Edinburgh, Open Estate


Horticulture
Open Estate, Dumfries, Barlinnie, Peterhead


Manufacturing
Shotts


DIY/Kitchen Build
Addiewell


Manual Handling
Addiewell


 
 


Vocational Training Area (Non SQA Certificated)
Establishments


Industrial Cleaning (BICS)
Aberdeen, Barlinnie, Dumfries, Edinburgh, Greenock, Low Moss, Perth, Polmont, Glenochil, Shotts, Open Estate, Cornton Vale, Peterhead


Catering - REHIS
Barlinnie, Dumfries, Edinburgh, Perth, Polmont, Glenochil, Shotts, Open Estate


Manual Handling, First Aid, CSLA, Heart Start – delivered via PE Departments
Aberdeen, Barlinnie, Dumfries, Edinburgh, Greenock, Low Moss, Perth, Polmont, Glenochil, Shotts, Open Estate


Carpentry and Joinery (City and Guilds)
Peterhead


Bricklaying
Open Estate, Peterhead


Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS card)
Open Estate, Edinburgh, Barlinnie, Polmont.


Fork Lift Truck Training (RTITB)
Edinburgh, Perth, Polmont, Shotts, Open Estate

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have participated in courses focusing on basic skills, including reading, writing, numeracy and IT awareness, in each of the last three years, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  The specific information requested is not routinely collated. SPS do collate the number of learners who engage with learning centres on a monthly basis in the education activities detailed in the answer to question S3W-30598 on 25 January 2010. Education activities are designed to underpin the five core skills of communication, numeracy, IT, problem solving and working with others. The following table details the average monthly number of prisoners who engage with the learning centres during the past two years (data was not collected in this way during 2006-07). The average has been used as there would be a high degree for double counting if each monthly total were simply added up.

  

Prison
2007-08
2008-09


Aberdeen
56
79


Addiewell
-
-


Barlinnie
252
252


Cornton Vale
172
169


Dumfries
63
73


Edinburgh
196
204


Glenochil
210
166


Greenock
141
165


Inverness
71
99


Kilmarnock*
-
-


Open Estate
197
161


Perth
140
212


Peterhead
137
107


Polmont
348
328


Shotts
110
190


Totals
2,093
2,205



  Note: *Current average monthly figure for Kilmarnock is 64.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have completed courses focusing on basic skills, including reading, writing, numeracy and IT awareness, in each of the last three years, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is not routinely collected by SPS. SPS captures the number of SQA communication, numeracy and IT units achieved by prisoners, however, this figure does not equate to individual prisoners as one prisoner may achieve more than one unit.

  

Prison
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09


Aberdeen
 
 
 


Communication
15
20
17


Numeracy
35
40
25


ICT
112
144
102


Addiewell
 
 
 


Communications
 
 
20


Barlinnie
 
 
 


Communication
35
197
229


Numeracy
47
109
116


ICT
309
304
398


Cornton Vale
 
 
 


Communication
12
29
27


Numeracy
18
36
45


ICT
64
37
92


Dumfries
 
 
 


Communication
7
51
74


Numeracy
19
34
67


ICT
21
54
110


Edinburgh
 
 
 


Communication
40
49
37


Numeracy
48
66
114


ICT
253
210
217


Glenochil
 
 
 


Communication
30
29
38


Numeracy
88
96
90


ICT
288
271
159


Greenock
 
 
 


Communication
28
52
68


Numeracy
75
54
103


ICT
83
43
111


Inverness
 
 
 


Communication
50
49
42


Numeracy
58
36
64


ICT
101
139
88


Kilmarnock
 
 
 


Communication
X
33
13


Numeracy
X
58
21


ICT
X
21
32


Open Estate
 
 
 


Communication
15
3
2


Numeracy
1
 
 


ICT
77
96
117


Perth
 
 
 


Communication
76
73
154


Numeracy
110
208
228


ICT
323
304
500


Peterhead
 
 
 


Communication
37
40
16


Numeracy
80
99
115


ICT
37
114
60


Polmont
 
 
 


Communication
124
111
113


Numeracy
20
141
105


ICT
185
191
156


Shotts
 
 
 


Communication
12
51
13


Numeracy
27
31
16


ICT
85
114
107


Totals
3,045
3,837
4,221

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have gained a Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) qualification in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) prison and (b) type of qualification.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is not routinely collected by SPS. SPS captures the number of SQA units achieved by prisoners, however, this figure does not equate to individual prisoners as one prisoner may achieve more than one unit.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) qualifications have been awarded to offenders serving custodial sentences in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) prison and (b) type of qualification.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table details the number of SQA unit achievements there have been over the last three years broken down by prison and whether the award was vocational or non-vocational. The data has been subdivided as far as is practicable based on the information routinely collated.

  

Prison
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09


Non-Vocational
Vocational
Non-Vocational
Vocational
Non-
Vocational
Vocational


Aberdeen
 
 
 
 
 
 


Communication
15
 
20
 
17
 


Numeracy
35
 
40
 
25
 


ICT
112
 
144
 
102
 


Addiewell
 
 
 
 
 
 


Communications
 
 
 
 
20
 


Barlinnie
 
110
 
275
 
727


Communication
35
 
197
 
229
 


Numeracy
47
 
109
 
116
 


ICT
309
 
304
 
398
 


Art
 
 
 
 
3
 


Working with others
 
 
 
 
210
 


General Studies
 
 
 
 
121
 


Life Skills
 
 
 
 
1
 


Cornton Vale
 
34
 
15
 
60


Communication
12
 
29
 
27
 


Numeracy
18
 
36
 
45
 


ICT
64
 
37
 
92
 


Dumfries
 
82
 
166
 
120


Communication
7
 
51
 
74
 


Numeracy
19
 
34
 
67
 


ICT
21
 
54
 
110
 


Art
 
 
 
 
3
 


Edinburgh
 
425
 
487
 
489


Communication
40
 
49
 
37
 


Numeracy
48
 
66
 
114
 


ICT
253
 
210
 
217
 


Art
1
 
 
 
 
 


Glenochil
 
522
 
320
 
370


Communication
30
 
29
 
38
 


Numeracy
88
 
96
 
90
 


ICT
288
 
271
 
159
 


Greenock
 
190
 
10
 
408


Communication
28
 
52
 
68
 


Numeracy
75
 
54
 
103
 


ICT
83
 
43
 
111
 


Art
 
 
 
 
1
 


Working with others
38
 
4
 
7
 


Open & Distance Learning
 
 
 
 
1
 


Inverness
 
 
 
 
 
 


Communication
50
 
49
 
42
 


Numeracy
58
 
36
 
64
 


ICT
101
 
139
 
88
 


Art
 
 
 
 
4
 


Working with others
9
 
12
 
5
 


General Studies
 
 
 
 
4
 


Life Skills
 
 
 
 
6
 


Kilmarnock
 
 
 
 
 
 


Communication
 
 
33
 
13
 


Numeracy
 
 
58
 
21
 


ICT
 
 
21
 
32
 


Open Estate
 
418
 
516
 
747


Communication
15
 
3
 
2
 


Numeracy
1
 
 
 
 
 


ICT
77
 
96
 
117
 


Working with others
1
 
 
 
1
 


Perth
 
15
 
1
 
94


Communication
76
 
73
 
154
 


Numeracy
110
 
208
 
228
 


ICT
323
 
304
 
500
 


Art
1
 
4
 
25
 


Peterhead
 
 
 
 
 
 


Communication
37
 
40
 
16
 


Numeracy
80
 
99
 
115
 


ICT
37
 
114
 
60
 


Working with others
4
 
115
 
3
 


General Studies
 
 
 
 
1
 


Open & Distance Learning
 
 
 
 
30
 


Polmont
 
333
 
372
 
250


Communication
124
 
111
 
113
 


Numeracy
20
 
141
 
105
 


ICT
185
 
191
 
156
 


Working with others
 
 
5
 
60
 


General Studies
 
 
 
 
432
 


Shotts
 
77
 
43
 
86


Communication
12
 
51
 
13
 


Numeracy
27
 
31
 
16
 


ICT
85
 
114
 
107
 


Working with others
35
 
15
 
 
 


Totals
3,134
2,206
3,992
2,205
5,139
3,351

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have participated in vocational training opportunities in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) prison, (b) type of training and (c) whether the training resulted in a qualification being awarded.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information on the number of prisoners who participated in vocational training over the last three years broken by prison and type of training is not routinely collected. Details of SQA vocational qualifications achieved by each prison are provided in the answer to question S3W-30603 on 25 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Scottish Government Staff

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its staff were subject to disciplinary action in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07, (c) 2007-08 and (d) 2008-09, broken down by directorate.

John Swinney: In accordance with Scottish Government procedures minor and informal disciplinary action is handled within the line management chain. As a result the Scottish Government holds centrally information only on cases where formal, rather than informal, disciplinary action was initiated against members of staff.

  Disciplinary action was taken against the following numbers of staff.

  April 2005 to March 2006

  Eight members of staff

  DG Finance and Corporate Services (FCS) – one

  DG Environment – seven.

  April 2006 to March 2007

  12 Members of Staff

  DG Environment – three

  DG Justice and Communities – three

  DG FCS – three

  DG Economy – one

  DG Education – one

  DG Health – one.

  April 2007 to March 2008

  Nine members of staff

  DG FCS – five

  DG Environment – two

  DG Education – one

  DG Heath – one

  April 2008 to March 2009

  12 members of staff

  DG FCS– six

  DG Economy – three

  DG Environment – three.

Special Advisers

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the names of its special advisers; their dates of appointment; previous employment, and salary band.

John Swinney: The names of the 10 special advisers currently in post and their dates of appointment are provided in the following table.

  

Name
Date Appointed


Geoff Aberdein
18 May 2007


John McFarlane
18 May 2007


Stephen Noon
18 May 2007


Kevin Pringle
18 May 2007


Noel Dolan
21 May 2007


Will McLeish
22 October 2007


Stuart Nicolson
18 August 2008


Colin McAllister
20 October 2008


Stephen Gethins
20 February 2009


Jennifer Erickson (part-time)
10 August 2009



  There were 12 special advisers in post at the end of the previous administration in 2007. Information relating to previous employment and individual pay bands is regarded as personal. The number of special advisers in each pay band is:

  

Pay Band
Pay Range from 1 April 2009
Number of Special Advisers


1
£39,445 - £52,904
5


2
£51,041 - £67,709
1


3
£65,017 - £83,963
4


3 (premium)
£83,549 - 100,942
0


4
£86,965 - 104,462
0

Sport

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers made any inquiries of the event organisers, the police or other emergency services about the proposed bonspiel going ahead on the Lake of Menteith this year.

Shona Robison: Representatives of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club had been in contact with Scottish Government officials during the week commencing 4 January 2010 because the club was seeking financial support for a documentary film that was being planned should the grand match go ahead the following weekend. EventScotland officials were also in contact with the club and had offered advice about practical aspects of the event.

  The club had removed the Lake of Menteith from its list of potential sites for the grand match in 2000-01 for various reasons including the issue of suitable car parking. It became apparent on 4 January 2010 that the relevant landowners in the area would in fact allow access and parking adjacent to the Lake of Menteith, and the club representatives met with Central Scotland Police and other emergency services on 6 and 8 January 2010.

  Following clear unambiguous advice from the police and other emergency services the club representatives concluded that there was not time to prepare satisfactory plans for traffic and access for emergencies before the weekend. It is for this reason that the club cancelled its plans for a grand match on the Lake of Menteith over the weekend of 9 and 10 January 2010.

  The club has informed the Scottish Government that plans were already in place for the other main potential sites for a grand match (Piper Dam and Loch Leven), although over the weekend of 9 and 10 January 2010, the ice at these sites was not suitable. The club is now updating its plans for all three sites with a view to being ready should suitable weather conditions return.

Waterways

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what role Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency have in any application by a local authority or riparian owner to dredge a watercourse.

Richard Lochhead: Dredging of a watercourse is a controlled activity under the terms of the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (CAR). Any person or body wishing to dredge a watercourse requires a CAR licence from SEPA.

  Where a licence application for dredging falls within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) or Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), SEPA works with SNH to ensure the nature conservation interests of the site are included appropriately within any assessments and subsequent licence determination.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Scottish Parliament Building

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the exit signage at the push buttons for the recently installed security turnstiles at the Queensberry House and the Canongate entrances to the Parliamentary campus comply with recommendations on clear and visible signage from any of the organisations that represents people with a visual impairment, such as the RNIB Scotland.

Alex Johnstone: The "push to exit" button and signage is smaller than the standard for an accessible exit/entrance but we consider that compliance with this standard is achieved by the separate accessible entry point located as part of the Canongate entrance. This is used by disabled passholders to access and egress the building as well as by some disabled visitors when leaving the Parliament. This entry point can also be used by people who are partially sighted. Large standard push buttons have been provided at regulation height and these have standard signage for an accessible entrance/exit. There is clear signage at both the entry and exit point.

  Although the "push to exit" buttons on the turnstile posts are smaller than the push buttons at the accessible entry and exit point it was recognised that these access points are used mainly by regular building users and, should a passholder who is blind or partially sighted prefer to use the turnstiles instead of the accessible entry point, we would provide one to one assistance to the individual on how to operate the turnstiles until they were familiar enough with the system to allow them to enter and exit freely and independently. Similarly, in the case of a blind or partially sighted visitor we would always offer assistance.

  In accordance with our Equality Framework the SPCB is committed to reviewing the accessibility of our building. We are always interested in receiving feedback from disability organisations on such matters and will in the near future review the turnstiles to ensure that no-one is being excluded from using the exit point.